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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 OPINION 
1

Gas Prices Are Down—and That's Bad

Investment in green is our only way out of crisis, writes Friedman

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(Newser) – Gas prices are dropping at last, back down to an average of less than $3 a gallon for the first time in a year. That's good news for recession-fearing consumers, writes Thomas L. Friedman, but there's a downside: the push to drive less and make Detroit build more fuel-efficient cars is disappearing. The oil shock has been "a bad B-movie rerun of the 1980s," and we can't get addicted to oil again.

For the New York Times columnist, the economic crisis shouldn't preclude a green revolution; in fact, green can actually help to end it. We need new federal standards, tax credits for clean energy, and a president whose motorcade gets more than 30 miles per gallon. "We can’t afford a financial bailout that also isn’t a green buildup," Friedman writes—one that both "strengthens America and helps the planet."

A motorist fills her SUV with gasoline in Frasier, Mich. Falling gas prices are good news for consumers, but will slow investment in green technology, writes Thomas Friedman.
A motorist fills her SUV with gasoline in Frasier, Mich. Falling gas prices are good news for consumers, but will slow investment in green technology, writes Thomas Friedman.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
William Bender pumps gas into his truck in Philadelphia on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008.
William Bender pumps gas into his truck in Philadelphia on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Gas prices have dropped below $3 a gallon in Montpelier, Vt., on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.
Gas prices have dropped below $3 a gallon in Montpelier, Vt., on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
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riffran
Dec 22, 08 5:03 AM CST
OPEC needs to be made a non-issue.....WE in the U.S. have the resources, and enough tech to be energy independant of those oil hoods....with tech such as thermal depolymerization, plasma gassification, wind solar and tidal being refined we can do it....but just like a smart dealer, OPEC throws out extra "candy" whenever you start to show the signs of kicking the habit. SP makes a valid point Reply
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